Fruit-tree prop.



G. R. THOIVHSON.

FRUIT TREE PROP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, 1912.

1,081,1 70. Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

am 2 GZzYfordZZfimrzpawg arnnr err CLIFFORD B1. THQME'SON, 01? JAY,

FRUIT-TREE PROP.

nos-intro.

Specification of Letters Patent.

latcntcd Dec. ll, 191.3.

Application filed June 19, 1912. Serial No. 704,628.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, CLIFFORD 1t. 'llnonrsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jay, in the county of Franklin and State of Maine, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Tree Props, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to props for fruit trees, or the like, the object in view being to provide an exceedingly simple, cheap, and effective crotch in the form of an attach ment to a straight pole, the said crotch being formed entirely out of a single blank of sheet metal, which is cut and bent into shape, to make a crotch proper, and a sleeve or ferrule, by means of which the crotch may be quickly attached to and detached from a suitable pole or stick.

Vl ith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

ln the drawings: view of a prop head, embodying the present invention. and shown applied to the upper portion of a pole. Fig. 2 is a vertical dianietrical section through the same, taken centrally of the crotch. Fig. 3 is a similar view, taken at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig. l; is a plan view of the sheet metal blank from which the crotch is formed.

In carrying out the present invention, I employ a piece of sheet metal, preferably galvanized iron to withstand the weather, and of a gage sufficient to impart the requisite stiffness to the crotch, as a whole. This blank comprises a crotch forming portion 1, a ferrule forming portion 2, and a neck portion 3, which connects the portions 1 and 2, as shown in the plan view of the blank in Fig. 4.

The crotch forming portion 1 is bent into arcuate or substantially semi-circular form, as shown, and the neck 3 is then bent at a right angle, after which the ferrule forming portion 2 is bent into the form of a cylinder, with the edges overlapping and secured together in any convenient manner, as by rivets or solder. The opposite longitudinal edges of the crotch are then bent downward, as shown at 4, to form stiffening flanges for giving the requisite strength to the crotch, and prevent the same from becoming bent or Figure l is a perspective injured, under the stress or weight of the limb of the tree resting therein or thereupon.

If desired, the upper edge of the ferrule may be soldered or otherwise securely fastened to the lower surface of the crotch, in any convenient manner, which will add to the stiifness and durability of the article as a whole.

lVhen con'lpleted, the crotch is continuous from end to end, and the central portion thereof extends across and closes the top of the ferrule forming an end seat and stop for the upper extremity of the pole or prop.

By means of the improved crotch, hereinabove described, a straight pole or stick, whether square, round, or of other shape in cross section, may be used, the upper end thereof being of a shape to fit into the ferrule which extends downward from the bottom of the crotch. This will be found a great labor saving device, as considerable time is now lost by farmers in obtaining crotched sticks which are commonly used for supporting fruit laden limbs.

The blank from which the device hereinabove described is formed, as shown in Fig. 4:, is generally rectangular in shape, and formed between the side edges thereof with cuts from the ends thereof toward the central connecting neck 3. This leaves free end flaps or portions 5 at opposite sides of the center of the ferrule forming portion 2, and also leaves free flaps or portions 6 at opposite sides of the center of the crotch forming portion. 1 of the blank. This permits the flaps 5 to be rolled into the form of a cylinder, as shown in the remaining figures of the drawings, to form the ferrule of the device which receives the pole or prop, and it also enables the portions 6 of the blank to be curved in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 to form the crotch of the device, which is continuous from end to end, and which, in the completed device, extends across and closes the top of the fer rule. It will also be observed that the cuts or incisions 7 which separate the flaps 5 from the flaps 6 are formed on such lines as to provide each of the lower flaps 5 with a convex upper edge 8, and a concaved por' tion 9 to said upper edge, the result being that when the parts 2 and 3 are bent into their final shapes, the top edges 8 and 9 of the flaps 5 are of such shape as to bear against and support the bottom surface of the crotch, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Very little, if any, material is lost in the formation 01": the blank, shown in Fig. 4:, by reason of the shape thereof, which is sub stantially rectangular.

What is claimed is:

1. A prop head made in one piece from a sheet metal blank,said blank being cut and bent to form a cylindrical prop receiving ferrule, and an integral semicircular crotch continuous from end to end extending across and closing the top of the ferrule and projecting to opposite sides of the ferrule.

2. A prop head made in one piece from a sheet metal blank, said blank being cut and bent to form a cylindrical prop receiving ferrule, and an integral semi-circular crotch contlnuous from end to end extending across and closing the top of the ferrule and projecting to opposite sides of the ferrule, the longitudinal edges of the crotch being turned down to form stifiening flanges.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CLIFFORD R. THOMPSON. Witnesses:

MABEL V. THOMPSON, CHARLES A. STINCHFIELD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. C. 

